PracticeNet is the Practice Directorate’s new Internet-based data collection system that surveys licensed psychologists about significant issues affecting professional practice. The system was designed to allow the directorate to rapidly implement surveys related to special developments. Shortly after the tragic events of September 11, PracticeNet was put to its intended use. An online survey conducted during the second week of October explored what clients are reporting and what psychologists are experiencing after the terrorist attacks.

PracticeNet asks participants about a single episode of care they provided to a client within a defined window of time—in this case, between October 5 and 11. If participants were not providing a clinical service to an individual client during the specified time, they are asked to respond about the client they saw most immediately before the randomly determined time, provided it was within 72 hours.

Four hundred seven (407) psychologists completed this online survey. Because PracticeNet participants are volunteers, this is not a random sample and cannot be generalized to all psychologists or to all APA members who provide clinical services. Rather, the intention is provide a “snapshot” of what occurs in practice at a particular time. Over time, these snapshots combine to provide a more detailed and accurate picture.

Preliminary descriptive data from the October survey portray the increased anxiety and other emotional consequences that health consumers and psychologists were experiencing a month after the attacks. The initial results also document ways in which practitioners are helping their clients and themselves with psychological needs in this stressful time.

• In addition to having their own personal reactions, 58 percent of responding psychologists said that they had been affected (somewhat, quite a bit, or a great deal) by the cumulative effect of their clients’ discussions surrounding September 11 and subsequent related events.
• Survey participants were asked if the client discussed the implications of the September 11 events and their aftermath in terms of several factors. 34 percent of clients seen by survey participants discussed the implications in terms of their world view, while 30 percent spoke about the implications in terms of their priorities.
• 39 percent of responding psychologists used specific inter-ventions such as relaxation techniques and supportive interventions to help clients cope with the terrorist events and their aftermath.

The accompanying graphics provide other partial preliminary survey results. Information from this survey will help the directorate better understand the public’s needs and the professional needs of the practice community. The directorate also plans to make information available to decision-makers who are strategizing about how best to help the nation cope and recover. A follow-up PracticeNet survey will be conducted to measure the continued effects of the terrorism on the nation’s psyche over time.

The Practice Directorate intends to have thousands of volunteer psychologists participate in PracticeNet. To apply, please go to the PracticeNet website at www.apapracticenet.net/Enroll/application.asp and follow the instructions.